First Solar Utility Plant Opens

The first national all solar power plant opened in Blythe, California this week.  Operated by First Solar, a solar module maker, the solar power plant generates 21 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 17,000 homes in Southern California.

First Solar Utility Plant in Blythe, CA

The electricity being generated by this utility power  plant is being purchased by Pacific Gas & Electric, who signed a 20 year purchase power deal with First Solar.  First Solar plans on building a number of projects in the area.  Recently approved by State regulators, First Solar plans on building a 48 megawatt utility power plant.  Pacific Gas & Electric also signed an additional 20 year purchase power deal for this new facility as well.  First Solar built the plant with thin film solar panels made from cadmium telluride, considered to be the most cost effective panels made.  The lower cost of the panels has made the economics of supplying solar generated electricity financially viable to utility companies.  First Solar’s first power plant was solely developed, financed, and built by the company.  The new plant meets the California renewable energy mandate which recently was signed into law.  Private initiative and investing seems to be leading the way to a greener, renewable American future.  The U.S. Government needs to produce another TVA scope project for the country in renewable energy.  TVA when built during the depression in  the 30′s brought electricity to the Tennessee Valley for the first time.  We need a green TVA project for this country.  Perhaps then we could see a lessening use of fossil fuels in our electrical generation.  Lessening fossil fuel use would go a long way to eliminating the amount of mercury being kicked into the atmosphere – something that was recently reported as having risen in this past decade.

By John Vlahakis